Lack of Stress-Induced Neuroendocrine Changes after Prolonged Drinking of Acid Water in the Rat

In regions of Eastern North America and Northern Europe there is great concern about acid precipitation (“acid rain”), a serious threat to animal and plant life (edit., 1985; Krug 1985; Rabinowitz and Greppin 1984). Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are the main components of acid rain before it reaches the ground (Blakeslee 1984; edit., 1985; Rabinowitz and Greppin 1984). The effects of one month’s daily consumption of acid drinking water, mimicking acid rain, were investigated in still-growing Wistar rats of both sexes. The following parameters were examined: blood stress hormones [(plasma corticosterone), (plasma B), a reliable marker of adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) (Steiner and Grahame Smith 1980), serum prolactin (PRL) (edit., 1979), plasma catecholamines (PCA) (Popper et al 1977)] and hypothalamic catecholamines (HCA) which modulate the release of anterior pituitary hormones.